OF BARRENNESS. ; 
Barrenness may be very properly reckoned among the diseases 
of females, as few married women, who have not children, enjoy a 
good state of health. It may proceed from various causes, as high 
living, grief, relaxation, &c. ; but it is chiefly owing to an obstruction 
or irregularity of the menstrual flux. . HR 
t is very certain that high living vitiates the humors, and prevents 
fecundity. We seldom find a barren woman among the laboring 
poor, while nothing is more common among the rich and affluent. 
The inhabitants of every country are prolific in proportion to their 
poverty ; and it would be an easy matter to adduce many instances 
of women, who, by being reduced to live entirely upon a milk and ve- 
getable diet, have conceived and brought forth children, though 
they never had any before. ‘Would the rich use the same sort of 
food and exercise as the farmer or mechanic, they would seldom have 
cause to envy the poor the blessing of a numerous and healthy off 
spring while they pine in sorrow for the want of even a single heir 
to their extensive possessions. aie y 
Affluence begets indolence, which not only vitiates the umors, 
but induces a general relaxation of the solids; a state highly u 
vorable to procreation. ‘To remove this we would recommend the 
following course: First, if there is great vitiation of the humors, 
give a course of cleansing medicines ; secondly, a diet consisting 
chiefly of milk and vegetables, together with sufficient exercise in 
the open air; thirdly, the use of corroborants, astringents, and aro- 
matics, as the clove jelly, which I prefer, the tonic tincture, elixir 
vitriol, unicorn, colombo, beth root, and the like; and lastly, above 
all, the cold bath. If barreaness proceeds from the whites, or any 
other disease, that must first be removed. % 
Barrenness is often the consequence of grief, sudden fear, anxiety, 
or any of the passions which tend to obstruct the menstrual flux, 
When barrenness is suspected to proceed from affections of the mind, | 
the person ought to be kept as easy and cheerful as’ possible ; ali 
disagreeable objects are to be avoided, and every method taken to 
amuse and entertain the fancy. WORE eet te eres tae 
, People should be on their guard against all dangerous stimulants 
that provoke desire ; they enfeeble instead of strengthen the’ powers 
of Nature, and render a weakness, which proper treatment might 
have removed, absolutely incurable. ) 
pay 
DISEASES OF INFANTS. _ 
papi es 
